Author: gleanernewspaper

The Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED), through its Rural Development Directorate (RDD), today held a Technical Committee meeting to advance the development of Sierra Leone’s first-ever Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) Policy. Senior ministry officials, representatives of local governments, national and international NGOs, SLANGO, and other stakeholders met at the Ministry Conference Hall, Tower Hill, to agree on a fast-tracked plan for consultations, recruitment, and resource mobilisation ahead of a December 2026 target.Development Secretary Ambrose James, who opened the meeting, stressed that the new policy is meant to improve coordination between communities, the government and development partners, and not to…

State Avenue, State House, Freetown,– Chief Minister Dr David Moinina Sengeh this week held a Strategic Delivery Clinic with the Ministry of Works and Public Assets (MWPA) to accelerate the delivery of key national infrastructure projects and strengthen accountability for results under the Government’s Big Five Game Changers. Key issues discussed included translating the Ministry’s FY2027 project portfolio into solid delivery commitments, restarting stalled work, arranging financing, tightening project management, and setting strict deadlines for completion, commissioning, and handover.The clinic brought together senior leadership and technical teams from the Ministry to review the FY2027 delivery matrix, assess the status of…

Bo, Southern Sierra Leone — September 1, 2026 — The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Statistics Sierra Leone (Stats SL) have held a one-day orientation in Bo to prepare field staff for a nationwide Rapid Census Awareness Perception Survey. This exercise, held at the Hotel in Doha, aims at providing supervisors and enumerators with the technical skills, ethical guidance and procedural knowledge necessary to carry out a one-week survey to measure public awareness, confidence, knowledge and perceptions toward the forthcoming 2026 Population and Housing Census.”The quick survey will play an important role in the overall Census communication plan,” Samuel…

President Julius Maada Bio and Segepoh Solomon Thomas Parliament passed the Constitution of Sierra Leone (Amendment) Act, 2025, on 10 August 2026, generating heated political and legal debate, with opponents arguing that it was flawed, even unlawful. The bill, which passed after an opposition walkout and heated debate, would change several key aspects of Sierra Leone’s electoral and political systems. Opponents say President Julius Maada Bio would be complicit in what they describe as an illegitimate enactment if he signs the measure into law. Main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) lawmakers staged a walkout during the vote, accusing the government of not following…

A delegation led by Minister of Youth Affairs, Ibrahim Sannoh, called on His Excellency Saud Mushabbab Al-Musa’e, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Republic of Sierra Leone. The engagement was part of the Ministry’s continuous efforts to broaden international partnerships that provide practical opportunities for the youth of Sierra Leone. Minister Sannoh was joined by Deputy Minister Patrick Gibrilla; Permanent Secretary Dr Philip Kargbo; Director of Programs Mr James Bondeva Sandi; and Director of Policy and Research Mr Marlon Bockarie, Esq. The delegation and the Ambassador discussed several possible areas of bilateral cooperation in youth development, including…

The Sierra Leone Association of Hotels has launched a five-day professional training program for hotel and restaurant employees at the Wusum Hotel in Makeni. Over 50 people from hotels, guest houses, bars, and restaurants throughout the Northern Region are taking part. The course focuses on practical skills for kitchen staff, front desk officers, and housekeepers to help them deliver better service on a daily basis.The sessions are being led by Jean Paul Hubert of France, an internationally experienced hospitality trainer hired by the Association. Mr Hubert, who has over 50 years of experience in the hospitality industry spanning multiple continents,…

The Sierra Leone High Commission joined members of the Sierra Leonean and diaspora communities in London on August 29, 2026, for the Count Down Community Sports Day, a lively family event held at Southwark Park Sports & Athletics Centre. The Count Down Community organised the day, which included friendly competition, cultural exchange, and community-building activities. Alumni associations, charities, businesses, social groups, and families from all over the UK attended.Participants participated in a variety of sporting events and recreational activities aimed at encouraging participation, healthy living, and stronger community ties. Athletics on the track were accompanied by music, food, and cultural…

JEDDAH, August 27, 2026 – Sierra Leone’s new Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mohamed Rahman Swaray, took advantage of the 23rd Extraordinary Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers, in Jeddah, to advocate for stronger economic ties with Saudi Arabia, calling on the Kingdom’s private sector to explore investment opportunities in Sierra Leone and the wider West African market, less than one month into his tenure.On the side-lines of the OIC session, Minister Swaray held discussions with H.E. Eng. Waleed bin Abdulkarim Al-Khuraiji, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to map out…

Higher Education Minister Hon. Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie, speaking at a Special Edition Civic Town Hall in Freetown, Wednesday, August 26, 2026, said the integrity and quality of Sierra Leone’s higher education system must be actively defended. Dr Wurie, speaking to the audience at the Miatta Civic Center during an event organized by the Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah, strongly called for more stringent verification of academic qualifications, increased use of online resources, and stronger institutional controls to curb emerging threats to quality education.The theme was “How Do We Address the Threats to Quality Education in Sierra…

By: Francis Kargbo, Media Relations Intern. Africell Sierra Leone’s CEO, Shadi Gerjawi has reiterated that the telecommunications provider always puts customers first in all its decisions and that user satisfaction is the true test of any product. Speaking to participants of the company’s Customer Experience (ACE) Media Tour, Gerjawi said that as customer needs evolve, Africell must be agile and responsive by engaging directly with communities across the country. Gerjawi said the company’s customer-centric strategy is well established, not a recent pivot. “For the last five years, Africell teams have been doing regular outreach and the ACE program is just…